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First Coast Connect

8/24/16: Bishop & Joost; Tutoring Parents; Dignity U Wear

Kevin Meerschaert
/
WJCT News
First Coast Connent host Melissa Ross (from left) interviews former Jacksonville City Council presidents Stephen Joost and Bill Bishop Wednesday about Mayor Lenny Curry's pension funding plan.

Former Jacksonville City Council presidents Bill Bishop and Stephen Joost joined host Melissa Ross to discuss why they oppose Mayor Lenny Curry’s pension proposal. We also heard from tutor Michelle Kaiser about the importance of communication between a student’s parents and their teachers, and local charity Dignity U Wear has launched a new challenge to help clothe school children living in poverty.    

Sales tax opposition

Bishop and Joost told Ross the pension proposal Curry is asking voters to approve “just kicks the can down the road” instead of dealing with the problem now. They said extending the ½ cent sales tax amounts to “taxation without representation” for future generations. The current ½ cent sales tax from the Better Jacksonville Plan expires in 2030. Curry’s proposal would extend the tax to pay off the pension debt.     

 

Tutoring parents

Communication between parents and teachers can always be a problem. Michelle Kaiser of m.power tutoring spoke with Ross about what teachers wish parents knew about their children’s education.  

 

Dignity U Wear

Local nonprofit Dignity U Wear has been issued a $22,500 challenge grant. Information technology company Nagarro and an anonymous donor have pledged to match donations to the organization’s Learning with “Dignity — Clothing Children for Success” campaign. Dignity U Wear supplies new school appropriate attire and after school programs for children living in poverty.      

0000017b-82fc-dd8b-a7fb-82ff31020000Producer Kevin Meerschaert can be reached at kmeerschaert@wjct.org, 904-358-6334 or on Twitter at @KMeerschaertJax

 

Kevin Meerschaert has left WJCT for new pursuits. He was the producer of First Coast Connect until October of 2018.